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Red Sox 24/7All Sox, All the Time 24/7. A smaller version of the original est. 2006

I'm willing to forgive and forget. The whole chicken and beer thing is in my top 5 most overblown stories of all time. Lackey's just got a bit of an attitude. If he really was pitching hurt since he got here, I'm interested to see how he fares healthy. I wouldn't turn my nose up at 200 innings as long as the ERA was below 4.50. He's going to be the #5 after all. I think he wants to prove some people wrong. I mean, Beckett never made an effort to get in shape for the season. At least Lackey has. He's got that going for him already. I think breaking up that duo will nix most of Lackey's issues.

Non-roster pitcher Jose De La Torre, a 27-year-old right-hander who came to the Sox last July in a trade from Cleveland, is on the provisional roster for his native Puerto Rico but said he hasn’t made a decision yet on whether he will play. Teams have until Feb. 20 to finalize their rosters.

“I’m thinking what is better for me, if I stay here in camp or go there,’’ said De La Torre, who was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 12 appearances for Pawtucket last season.

De La Torre pitched this winter for Caguas, which won the Puerto Rican winter league and went to the Series Caribe. He pitched twice in the series, both times against the Dominican Republic in Hermosillo, Mexico.

Originally drafted by the Mets in 2006, this is De La Torre’s first big-league camp. That’s what makes the decision so difficult.

“I’m excited,’’ he said, broadly smiling. “I’ve done this for so many years, and finally get the opportunity to be in a big-league camp and show what I can do is, I like it. It’s fun.’’

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- What often comes into play when teams pare down to the 25-man Opening Day roster is which players still have options, meaning they can be sent to the minors without having to pass through waivers.

What does all of that mean? Obviously, the fact that an Ortiz or Dempster have options left means nothing. Where it does matter is the discussion of bullpen spots, catcher, backup infielder, backup outfielder, and rotation.

Bullpen: The fact that Mortensen is out of options likely means the Sox will attempt to move him this spring, since there doesn’t appear to be a spot in the bullpen for him. But chances are that teams will wait until he is placed on waivers, and it’s possible he could clear and be assigned to Pawtucket.

It becomes more relevant for Morales. Breslow is signed to a two-year deal, so he will be one lefty in the pen. Miller pitched well in that role last season, and would appear to have the inside track for the other. Morales also seems to be a longshot for the rotation, so he could be a trade target this spring. He won’t pass through waivers unclaimed.

Catcher: Ryan Lavarnway still has options, which is why the Sox can postpone making a decision on his future and send him back to Pawtucket, as unhappy as that might make him.

Bench positions: Nava is out of options, so that could give him an inside track for an extra outfielder’s job, although the Sox probably wouldn’t be afraid to expose him to waivers. He has cleared before. Ciriaco is out of options, which probably gives him the inside track over Brock Holt and Drew Sutton, although Sutton’s versatility -- he can play both infield and outfield -- should earn him a long look.

Starting rotation: Pawtucket has the makings of a terrific rotation, with the Sox holding options on De La Rosa, Webster, Britton and Wright. A great spring by any of them could tempt the Sox to move one of the Big 5 -- Lackey? -- but the Sox may prefer to keep the depth the young arms provide.